Boat and Stream questions are asked in many competitive exams including SSC IBPS etc. this type of questions uses Time and Distance Formulas to some level. So you need to be familiar with time and distance formulas first.

Learn time and distance formulas shortcuts with examples here.

This time we are giving you the shortcuts of boat and streams questions.

The basic question is

how to solve boat and stream questions quickly

so here is the solution

remember the methods and formulas given below and you will be able to solve the boat and stream question as quickly as possible.

Below are some basic terms of boat and stream questions:

Downstream: if a boat or person travels the distance with the flow of the stream, then that speed is called downstream.

Upstream: if a boat or person travels the distance against the flow of the stream, then it is called upstream.

Now

If speed of boat is x km/h and speed of stream is y km/h , then

Boat speed in downstream = x+y km/h (both speed are added)

Boat speed in upstream = x-y km/h (y is subtracted from x because boat speed is in opposite direction to speed of stream)

If the speed of boat is x km/h in downstream and y km/h in upstream, then

speed of boat in still water is =(x+y)/2

speed of stream = (x-y)/2

if the speed of boat or person in still water is x and speed of stream is y and the boat has to cover a distance d km then

time taken in downstream T1 = d/(x+y) ( because time = distance / speed )

time taken in upstream T2 = d/(x-y)

total time taken in going downstream and upstream T = T1+T2 = [d/(x+y)]+[d/(x-y)]